Vibratory Firearm Barrel Cleaning Tool

ABSTRACT

The vibratory firearm barrel cleaning tool of this invention is a device to clean firearm barrels more thoroughly, quickly and efficiently than that with prior art devices. It employs the conventional cleaning rod, brush and cleaning fluid, but is powered by a vibratory source on the cleaning rod to more effectively remove fouling elements from the barrel interior.

BACKGROUND

All firearms require cleaning for long-term reliable operation and tomaintain accuracy; this is generally done after every series ofshooting, and often during the series.

In the prior art, firearm barrels are cleaned using a cleaning rodmounted on a handle and threading a brush, typically bronze or nylon,mounted on the opposite end of the cleaning rod. The brush is manuallymoved back and forth axially inside the firearm barrel to loosen powderresidue, and loosen fouling by copper, lead or plastic buildup. Variousbore cleaning fluids (such as solvents) have been used in this processdepending upon the type of fouling, the degree of cleaning desired, andcost. The cleaning rod is also capable of being mounted with a jag(pointed tip) to press cleaning patches, typically cotton or other ragmaterial, down the barrel with cleaning fluid, dry or with oil or otherpreservative lubricants. Slotted tips have also been used in the priorart, with a cleaning patch passed midway through the slot, holding thecleaning patch in place at the end of the cleaning rod during cleaning.The cleaning rod may be used through the receiver or muzzle end of thebarrel depending upon the type of firearm.

A typical rifle cleaning rod is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,616,109 havinga handle with swivel connecting to the rod and threaded end forconnecting a cleaning brush, jag, or slotted tip. An alternative priorart cleaning device is a rope-like device pulled through the barrel withdry or with solvents, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,972,125. Also, pistolsmay be disassembled and manually scrubbed or placed in an ultrasoniccleaning bath, though this is not done in the field, and requires arelatively bulky and expensive ultrasonic cleaning bath chamber.

Rifle and pistol barrels have rifling, generally five or six groovesspiraling down the barrel interior to spin-stabilize the bullet after itis fired from the cartridge and accelerating down the barrel. The grooveareas are most prone to powder residue and fouling. The prior artcleaning brush extends into the grooves to scrub the residue andfouling. Some types of fouling, such as copper from jacketed bullets,are difficult to remove even with strong solvents, and some type ofprior art cleaning solutions can damage the barrel itself—a highlyundesirable effect. Generally the cleaning regimen alternates betweenbore brushing with a cleaning fluid and running a patch through with ajag on the cleaning rod. When a patch runs through with little or nodiscoloration, the firearm is considered clean and a final lubricatingpatch is run through to prevent barrel corrosion. This prior artcleaning method may require up to an hour of repeated manual cleaningfluid scrubbing to fully cleanse a barrel. Even then, the barrel isoften times not cleaned as well as desired, and a “clean” patch maysimply indicate that the prior art method and selected cleaning fluidhas performed to its level of ability, and not that the barrel isactually completely clean.

The prior art devices and methods are almost entirely manual with littleautomation developed to improve the process. U.S. Pat. No. 4,726,137,however, describes a mechanical drive system to move the cleaning rodaxially down the barrel while rotating the cleaning brush). Pistols maybe disassembled and the parts placed in an ultrasonic cleaning bath forautomated cleaning as shown in U.S. Pat No. 5,202,523.

Rifle barrels may not generally be cleaned ultrasonically (most riflebarrels are too long for emersion in typical submersible cleaningtanks), and ultrasonic transducers are typically not used inside firearmbarrels due to the possibility that cavitations would result, thuspotentially damaging the barrel through pitting. Several mechanicallydriven rotating brush systems have been shown in the prior art (Chambercleaning tool, U.S. Pat. No. 2,824,322; Gun barrel cleaning device, U.S.Pat. No. 4,930,240). The rotating brush actually forces material fromthe barrel lands (projections on the bore surface between the grooves)into the grooves, thereby impairing the cleaning process. The generalrifle cleaning rod system seems to date back about one hundred years(OODFKEY, U.S. Pat. No. 1,556,494 issued in 1925 for a rotatable handlecleaning rod). Several rotating brush devices for generic tube cleaninghave been patented: Chamber cleaning tool, U.S. Pat. No. 2,824,322;Power operated cleaning device, U.S. Pat. No. 3,343,192; Gun barrelcleaning device, U.S. Pat. No. 4,930,240; Tube cleaning apparatus, U.S.Pat. No. 5,426,807 and Device for cleaning the interior of a tubularmember, U.S. Pat. No. 5,809,601. Each of these prior art referencesdescribe mechanically or electrically rotating a brush within a tubularmember, which in some cases may be a firearm barrel.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,676,878 describes the use of vibratory motion forinterior tubular cleaning. This is an improvement to a large system usedto clean various large tubulars, including the large artillery barrelson naval guns. This prior art barrel cleaning system is a pneumaticallydriven system with three brushes, a squeegee, oiling head and a pump todeliver liquid to the barrel interior. This device is similar to the‘pig outs’ used for cleaning and inspecting pipelines by moving down thepipeline internally. It is far too large to be employed with anyhandheld firearm, is not electrically actuated, cannot be used in anymanual mode, and typically cleans bores over 12 inches in diameter, dueat least in part to the large size required for its components which allfit inside the large tubular, such as a naval gun. This system requiresmotors, pumps, a pneumatic system, lubricants and filters operated by asizeable power system. It cannot be operated or moved by a singleperson, and has no application to handheld firearms.

SUMMARY

The novel vibratory firearm barrel cleaning tool of this invention is adevice comprising a source of vibration and a firearm cleaning rod. Aswith conventional firearm cleaning rods, cleaning fluids such assolvents may be used in conjunction with a brush, a jag with cleaningpatch, and the like, to clean the barrel interior. The vibratory firearmbarrel cleaning tool of this invention may be used by first slowlydisplacing the actuated vibrating cleaning rod (with or without cleaningfluid) with respect to the barrel, to dislodge powder residue, andremove copper, lead or plastic fouling. The cleaning rod is displacedwith respect to the barrel by either by moving the cleaning rod whileholding the barrel fixed, moving the barrel while holding the cleaningrod fixed, or moving both the cleaning rod and the barrel so that thereis a displacement of the cleaning rod within the barrel being cleaned.After the vibratory cycling down the barrel, the cleaning rod may beforced back and forth axially, with or without vibration, to remove theloosened fouling.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 pictorially illustrates one embodiment of the Vibratory FirearmBarrel Cleaning Tool in two sections.

FIG. 2 schematically depicts a fully automated embodiment of the devicewith the cleaning rod driven mechanically with cleaning fluid applieddown the center of the cleaning rod to the cleaning element.

DRAWING REFERENCE NUMERALS FIG. 1

-   1 Power cord to vibratory device.-   2 Vibration source.-   3 Coupler connecting cleaning rod handle to vibration source.-   4 Cleaning rod handle.-   5 Cleaning rod swivel (optional).-   6 Cleaning rod.-   7 Barrel cleaning element, typically a brush.

FIG. 2

-   8 Rifle barrel.-   8 Mechanical driver moving rod and brush down and back the barrel    interior.-   10 Pump supplying cleaning fluid down the center of the rod to the    cleaning brush.-   11 Cleaning fluid supply line.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In accordance with the teachings of this invention, a novel firearmbarrel cleaning tool enables faster, more thorough and more effectivecleaning of firearm barrels. The vibratory firearm barrel cleaning toolof the present invention is lightweight and slightly larger and heavierthan the prior art all-manual cleaning rod and brush tool. Further, thenovel cleaning tool of this invention is inexpensive. One embodiment ofthis invention is a handheld device. An alternative embodiment mountsthe vibratory device on a work bench, or the like while the barrel, notthe rod and vibratory device, is cycled axially. In yet anotherembodiment of this invention, both the barrel and the rod are moved, butin such a manner that the rod is displaced relative to the barrel.Another embodiment uses a mechanically driven system to axially cyclethe vibratory device coupled to the cleaning rod with respect to thebarrel being cleaned, shown schematically in FIG. 2. In yet anotherembodiment the device of the present invention comprises an automatedsystem for axially cycling the cleaning rod and vibratory device. As afeature which can be used in conjunction with the various embodiments, afluid, such as a cleaning solvent is pumped or otherwise introduced at aslow rate through the cleaning rod to the cleaning tool at the end ofthe rod. Another embodiment connects an ultrasonic transducer to thecleaning rod in lieu of the cleaning brush. The various embodiments ofthis invention are more effective in first loosening barrel fouling andresidue through vibratory action prior to its removal, for example byutilization of the cleaning rod in conjunction with one or more,brushes, slotted tips, jags, and cleaning patches.

One embodiment of a novel vibratory firearm barrel cleaning toolconstructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention is shownin FIG. 1. Due to the typical length of a cleaning tool used for riflebarrels, FIG. 1 shows an exploded view with projection lines delineatinga continuous connection of a single cleaning rod. The cleaning coolincludes a vibration source (2), shaft coupler (3), cleaning rod (6) andcleaning tool (7). In FIG. 2, cleaning tool (7) is shown as a brush,although other cleaning tools can also be used. The vibration source (2)may be powered by any convenient source of power, including but notlimited to batteries, household electricity, or an intermediate powersupply which is itself operated by batteries or household electricity.In one embodiment the vibration source (2) is the type usedtherapeutically to massage sore muscles. Other such devices suitable foruse as the vibration source (2) are the vibratory wands used to removeair pockets from concrete prior to setting. Other suitable sources ofvibration may serve as vibration source (2), as will be readilyappreciated to those of ordinary skill in the art.

Compressed air or other fluid medium can also be used as the powersource, although in one embodiment battery power is utilized as lightweight, non-bulky and providing an adequate amount and duration of powerfor typical cleaning operations, particularly in the field whenhousehold power may be unavailable. Power cord (1) is shown asillustrative of embodiments which receive power from other than abattery source located within vibration source (2). Vibration source (2)may be coupled to bore cleaning rod (6) via coupling device (3). Commontypes of couplers suitable for use as coupling device (3) includethreaded sleeves, keyed shaft couplers or press fit couplers, as well asother devices as will be appreciated to those of ordinary skill in theart. In certain embodiments, vibration source (2) is manufactured inintegral combination with cleaning rod (6) and thus no separatelydistinct coupling device (3) is used. The cleaning rod (6) has a handle(4) mounted on the end opposite the cleaning tool (7), which handle (4)may if desired be substantially cylindrical for ease of use by anoperator. If desired, optional swivel (5) is included to allow cleaningrod (6) and cleaning tool (7) to rotate with respect to handle (4), forexample as cleaning tool (7) follows the lands and grooves of the barrelinterior as cleaning tool (7) is longitudinally displaced within thebarrel.

Another embodiment of the vibratory firearm barrel cleaning tool is amore automated device shown schematically in FIG. 2. Here the barrel(and entire rifle if attached) is slowly cycled by a mechanical drivermoving rod and brush down and back the barrel interior (9). Concurrentwith the mechanical cycling cleaning fluid is supplied, for example by apump (10) through a cleaning fluid supply line (11).While it has beenthe experience of the inventor that specific cleaning techniques arealmost as varied as are the users of firearms themselves, in oneembodiment, the novel vibratory firearm barrel cleaning tool of thepresent invention is used by following this regimen:

1. A firearm barrel cleaning tool comprising; a. a cleaning rodincluding a cleaning tool for placement into a firearm barrel; and b. asource of vibratory power coupled to said cleaning rod in a locationsuch that said source of vibratory power remains external to saidfirearm barrel.
 2. A firearm barrel cleaning tool as in claim 1 whereinsaid source of vibratory power is attached to a proximal end of saidcleaning rod and wherein said cleaning tool is located at a distal endof said cleaning tool.
 3. A firearm barrel cleaning tool as in claim 2wherein said cleaning tool is selected from the group of cleaning toolscomprising jags, brushes, and slotted tips.
 4. A firearm barrel cleaningtool as in claim 1 wherein said source of vibratory power comprises anelectrically actuated vibration source. a. A firearm barrel cleaningtool as in claim 4 wherein said electrically actuated vibration sourceis powered from the A.C. mains or one or more batteries.
 5. A firearmbarrel cleaning tool as in claim 1 which further comprises a mechanicaldevice for displacing said cleaning rod within said barrel interior. 6.A firearm barrel cleaning tool as in claim 1 which further comprises achannel interior to said cleaning rod for the introduction of a fluid tothe bore of said firearm barrel.
 7. A firearm barrel cleaning toolcomprising a cleaning rod, including a cleaning tool for placement intoa firearm barrel, wherein said cleaning tool comprises an ultrasonictransducer.
 8. A method for cleaning a firearm barrel comprising thesteps of: a. mounting a cleaning tool on a distal end of a cleaning rod;b. introducing said cleaning rod into said firearm barrel; c. applyingvibratory power to a proximal end of said cleaning rod, said proximalend located exterior to said firearm barrel.